An audit of the surgical work-load in a urology unit.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the surgical work-load on a urology unit; to define the difference between case-load and work-load; and to assess the work-load in relation to surgical staffing levels.


METHODS
Prospective audit of all surgical procedures carried out on patients, excluding extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL), during a one year period, classified according to the British United Provident Association (BUPA) schedule of procedures.


METHODS
One of the two urology units at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo (NHSL).


METHODS
Inpatients having surgical procedures in one year.


METHODS
The number of surgical procedures, according to their complexity, with particular reference to the level of surgical staffing; difference between case-load and the actual work-load computed using the Intermediate Equivalent (IE) system of Jones and Collins (1).


RESULTS
The annual surgical work-load on the urology firm was 1900 IEs. In our unit BUPA complex major, major plus and major operations comprised 27.2% of the case-load but accounted for about 47% of the work-load. The BUPA intermediate and minor procedures comprising the remaining 72.8% of the case-load accounted for only 53% of the work-load. Endoscopic urological procedures made up 71% of the work-load. The specialist surgeon and the senior registrar have contributed to 51.4% (977 IEs) and 40.2% (765 IEs) of the total work-load respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Case-load is a poor performance indicator of surgical activity. IE weighted work-load has been shown to reflect surgical activity more appropriately than case-load. A well trained senior registrar's contribution to the total surgical work-load is appreciable.
Goonewardena
S A
SA
Department of Urology, National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo.
Abeygunasekera
A M
AM
Ketheeswaran
T
T
D006757:Hospital Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D013188:Sri Lanka; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014572:Urology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*